How to permanently remove a flashlight from the lock screen Xiaomi: official and hidden methods

The flashlight icon on Xiaomi’s lock screen is one of the most annoying features of MIUI firmware, which the manufacturer stubbornly does not want to turn off through standard settings. For many users, this label is not only useless, but also interferes: random taps include a flashlight in your pocket, draining the battery, and on some models (Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Xiaomi 13T) the icon takes up too much space, blocking notifications.

In this article, we will look at all the working ways to remove a flashlight, from official (for newer versions of MIUI 14) to hidden methods using ADB and editing system files. Importantly, some instructions require unlocking the bootloader or root rights, which can affect the warranty, and we noted such moments with special warnings.

If you are looking for a solution for a particular model, check compatibility in the table below. 13/14 (for example, Xiaomi 14 or POCO F5) topical №1 and №4. For older smartphones (Redmi) 9A, Mi A3) It may be necessary to use a combination of methods.

Official method: MIUI settings (works on MIUI 14+)

With the release of MIUI 14 (fall 2022), Xiaomi finally added the ability to turn off some of the lock screen elements through the settings menu. However, the option is hidden and does not work on all devices.

Open the Settings → Lock screen.
Slip on the item Style of the lock screen.
Select the current style (e.g. Digital Watch or Analog Watch).
Scroll down to the Shortcuts (or Quick Actions) section.
Find the flashlight switch and turn it off.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (POCO X5 Pro, Redmi Note 11 Pro+) This paragraph may not be available even in MIUI 14.In this case proceed to the following method.

📊 Your version. MIUI?

MIUI 12 or older

MIUI 13

MIUI 14

MIUI 15 (beta)

I don't know.

If you don't have an option, try updating your firmware to the latest version.

📱 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system.
🔍 Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Download the latest version.
🔄 After the update, restart the device and check the settings again.

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On some devices (Xiaomi 12T, Redmi K50) the option only appears after changing the firmware region to Europe (EEA). To do this, select the European Union region in the Mi Account settings and wait for the configuration update (it can take up to 24 hours).

2. Disconnection through Developer Mode (without root)

If standard settings don’t work, you can try deactivating the flashlight through hidden developer settings, a method that works on most Xiaomi and Redmi Android 10-13 devices, but requires care:

Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version (you will be notified "You are a developer").

Settings → Additional → For Developers

Quick setups

Notification panel

The flashlight on the lock screen

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI Global POCO M4 Pro) this item may not be available. In this case, try an alternative path:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → System Applications → Settings → Memory → Clear Data

After cleaning the settings cache, restart the device.This will reset some settings, but may return hidden options.

What to do if the developer mode is not turned on?

If nothing happens after 7 taps on the MIUI version, check: - Make sure you tap it according to the MIUI version, not Android. - On some models (Redmi 10C) you need to tap on the Build Number in the About Phone → All characteristics. - If you use a child mode or a profile with restrictions, the developer mode can be blocked.

3. Removal via ADB (no root, but with PC)

If previous methods didn’t work, the most reliable way is to turn off the flashlight via Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method does not require root rights, but requires a computer and USB-On cable devices. MIUI 14.0.5+ and a newer team may not work due to changes in security policy – in this case, use the method №4.

Instructions:

Download and install ADB Tools on PC.
Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Go to Settings → For developers. Activate USB Debugging.

Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the trusted device.

Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.

adb shell settings put secure sysui_flashlight_available 0

Reset the device.

To return the flashlight back, use the same command, replacing 0 with 1.

Install ADB Tools on PC|Enable debugging on USB phone-on|Connect your phone to the original cable|Allow debugging in the pop-up window on the phone|Open the command line on behalf of the administrator-->

Xiaomi model	MIUI 12	MIUI 13	MIUI 14	Notes
Redmi Note 10 Pro	❌ It's not working.	✅ It's working.	✅ It's working.	Demands ADB
Xiaomi 11T	❌ It's not working.	⚠️ Partially.	✅ It's working.	MIUI 13 may return after upgrade
POCO F3	❌ It's not working.	✅ It's working.	✅ It's working.	—
Redmi 9A	❌ It's not working.	❌ It's not working.	⚠️ Requires root.	Old firmware with limitations
Xiaomi 13 Ultra	—	—	✅ It's working.	Official option in settings

4. editing system files (root only)

If you have root rights (like Magisk), you can delete the flashlight by editing system files, which is the most radical method and can cause the firmware to run unstable if you do something wrong.

Instructions for experienced users:

Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Mixplorer).
Go to /system/usr/idc/Lockscreen.key or (for newer MIUI versions): /system/usr/keylayout/Generic.kl
Find the line with key 115 FLASHLIGHT (or).
Replace it with #key 115 FLASHLIGHT.
Save the file and restart the device.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of system files can lead to bootloop ( looped reboot).Before making changes, back up the file! on some devices (Xiaomi) 12 Pro) the path to the file may be different – use directory search /system.

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Editing system files is a last resort, and if you are not sure what you are doing, use methods without root (ADB or MIUI settings).

5. Use of third-party launchers (bypass)

If none of these methods worked, you can hide the flashlight by replacing the standard lock screen with an alternative one, and customization launchers will do this:

🎨 Niagara Launcher – allows you to hide system elements, including a flashlight.
🔄 Nova Launcher + TeslaUnread module for notification management.
🌙 Smart Launcher 6 – has built-in settings for the lock screen.

Instructions for Nova Launcher:

Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
Go to Settings Nova → Lock screen.
Turn off the option to show system shortcuts.
Install TeslaUnread and configure the notifications display over the flashlight.

⚠️ Note: Third-party launchers may conflict with MIUI Optimization (optimization) MIUI). To avoid lags, turn it off through ADB:

adb shell settings put global miui_optimization_disabled 1

6. Alternative solutions: if nothing helps

If all of these methods fail, radical measures remain:

🔄 Flashing to custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS) will remove the flashlight completely, but will require unlocking the bootloader and may take away warranty.
🛠️ In some cases, Xiaomi will go along and turn off the flashlight on request (for example, if it interferes due to a defect in the screen).
📱 Use gestures. Set up Double touch or Swipe to turn on the flashlight through Settings → Gestures to minimize the use of the icon on the lock.

For flashing, we recommend using official Xiaomi tools:

🔧 MIUI ROM Flashing Tool (for Windows).
📱 Fastboot or Recovery modes (instructions on xiaomi.eu).

What is custom firmware?

Custom ROM is an alternative version of Android created by enthusiasts. It lacks Xiaomi branding and many of the limitations of MIUI, but can contain bugs. Popular firmware for Xiaomi: - Pixel Experience (pure Android) - LineageOS (stable but no MIUI feature) - ArrowOS (balance between customization and performance) The installation requires an unlocked bootloader and can lead to data loss!

FAQ: Frequent questions

❓ Why After Updating MIUI flashlight's back?

Firmware updates often reset custom settings, including changes made through ADB or system file editing. To avoid this: Before upgrading, back up via Settings → System → Backup. After updating, re-apply the ADB command or edit files. Disable automatic MIUI updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update → Three Points → Settings → Auto Update.

❓ Can I remove a flashlight without a computer?

Yes, but the choice of methods is limited: Try the official method through the MIUI settings (section 1). Use third-party launchers (section 5). On some devices, resetting helps (Settings → System → Resetting → Resetting all settings), but this will delete all your data! For methods with ADB or file editing, the computer is mandatory.

❓ Will the flashlight work after it is removed?

Yes, the flashlight itself remains a function. You can turn it on: via the notification bar (swipe down → flashlight icon); through the voice assistant (OK, Google, turn on the flashlight); through gestures (if configured in Settings → Gestures); through the desktop widget (long-press screen → Widgets → Flashlight); only the icon on the lock screen is removed, not the function itself.

❓ Why on mine? POCO X3 Pro no option to turn off the flashlight?

POCO devices often get stripped down versions of MIUI with limited settings. For this model: Try the ADB method (Section 3). Update the firmware to the latest version of MIUI 14 (even if it is beta). Install custom reavers (e.g. TWRP) and edit system files manually. On POCO X3 Pro, it also helps to change the firmware region to EEA (Europe) through Settings → Additional → Region.

❓ Can I return the flashlight after removal?

All changes are reversible: if used ADB, The command is: adb shell settings put secure sysui_flashlight_available 1 If you have edited system files, delete the # symbol before the key line. 115 FLASHLIGHT. If you used a launcher, return the standard MIUI Launcher in Settings → Annexes → By default.